Human rights laws are a charter for criminals, say 75% of Britons

Nearly three quarters of Britons think human rights have become a ‘charter for criminals’, a poll has revealed.

It showed a strong majority of 72 per cent hold negative views about the role of human rights laws.

Only one in six said human rights had not become a charter for criminals and the undeserving.

Britons want ministers to push for reforms to the European Court of Human Rights, which has a newly-elected British president, Sir Nicolas Bratza

The YouGov poll, published today, will heap pressure on ministers to secure major reforms to the European Court of Human Rights.

This week all 47 member states of the Council of Europe, the governing body of the controversial Strasbourg court, will meet in the UK to discuss proposed changes.

Britain has the chairmanship of the council until later this year and ministers want to secure a deal which would diminish the role of the court and give greater powers to Parliament and British courts.

The survey asked if respondents agreed with the statement ‘human rights have become a charter for criminals and the undeserving’.